Archive for June, 2006

Recently, I came up with the “Catalog of Anti-Male Shaming Tactics” to categorize the primary ways in which men are shamed and ridiculed when they discuss matters related to Men’s Rights Activism. If you have not done so, I suggest you look at the list. Anyway, I have thought of a new entry. The Catalog will be revised with the following addition:

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Charge of Defeatism (Code Maroon)

Discussion: This shaming tactic is akin to the Charge of Irascibility and the Charge of Cowardice in that the accuser attacks the target’s negative or guarded attitude about a situation. However, the focus is not so much on the target’s anger or fear, but on the target’s supposed attitude of resignation. Examples:

“Stop being so negative.”

“You are so cynical.”

“If you refuse to have relationships with women, then you are admitting defeat.”

“C’mon! Men are doers, not quitters.”

Response: The charge of defeatism can be diffused by explaining that one is merely being realistic about a situation. Also, one can point out that asking men to just accept their mistreatment at the hands of women and society is the real attitude that is defeatist. Many men have not lost their resolve; many have lost their patience.

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I am fast running out of colors to code the shaming tactics. I suppose gynocentrists have as many ways to snipe at men as there are shades and hues in a 32-bit color palette. If the Charge of Optimism was a shaming tactic, I’d have to designate it as Code Rose.